{"id":234383,"date":"2023-10-21T12:54:11","date_gmt":"2023-10-21T07:24:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=234383"},"modified":"2023-10-22T11:39:20","modified_gmt":"2023-10-22T06:09:20","slug":"online-safety-bill-anti-terror-bill-law-making-to-end-democracy-fundamental-rights-of-sri-lankan-citizens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/online-safety-bill-anti-terror-bill-law-making-to-end-democracy-fundamental-rights-of-sri-lankan-citizens\/","title":{"rendered":"Online Safety Bill & Anti-Terror Bill \u2013\u00a0 Law Making To End Democracy & Fundamental Rights Of Sri Lankan Citizens"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Government has included two Bills titled \u2018The Online Safety Act\u2019 (OSA) and the \u2018Anti-Terror Act\u2019 (ATA) in the Parliamentary Order Paper dated 3rd<\/sup><\/span> October 2023. Both Bills have sweeping provisions to seriously.<\/span> curtail and even violate<\/span> the freedoms of expression, free speech, right to information, assembly and association. Both present fatal threats to democracy and fundamental rights in this country.<\/p>\n

The OSA proposes to create an \u2018Online Safety Commission\u2019 appointed by the President and dismissed at his will and pleasure, which is given sweeping powers to determine if a statement is a \u2018false statement\u2019 and take measures to \u2018prohibit\u2019 it from circulation. The Commission has powers to issue directives to persons and online service providers to remove or block content, sites and locations. If its directives are not complied with, penal sanctions including prison sentences and fines can be imposed. The OSA will embed a culture of state harassment of online journalists and activists, artists, scholars, writers, Trade Unions Civil Society Organisations, including Women\u2019s Groups, Human Rights defenders, professional organisations, and any citizen who dares to criticize government and disagree with its policies and governance. Not only the Fundamental Rights of speech, expression and access to information, but the right to claim them through the connected rights of freedom of protest and association will be curtailed and destroyed by the State. The inevitable self-censorship of citizens and communities that can follow, will embed authoritarian and dictatorial\u00a0governance that has no respect for the Sovereignty of the Sri Lankan people that is a foundational value in our Constitution. The lack of accountability and corruption in governance that we see today will become a permanent aspect of governance. The impact on\u00a0the life of a Sri Lankan citizen and another generation will be far reaching and hard to reverse.\u00a0This will complete Sri Lanka\u2019s transformation into a complete Orwellian State where what the \u2018truth\u2019 is will be determined and imposed exclusively by the State.<\/p>\n

The ATA will be a reinvention of the\u00a0<\/span>of the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), which it claims to repeal. Under the ATA the definition of what comprises \u2018terrorism\u2019 is so vast and vague that any act can become an act of terror if the State deems it so. Any protest or strike can become an act of terror. Any instance of free speech can be deemed as inciting \u2018terrorism\u2019. Any organisation can be proscribed as a \u2018terrorist\u2019 association. Any publication can be deemed a \u2018terrorist\u2019 publication. Anyone associated with \u2018terrorist\u2019 suspects, by virtue of association and knowledge, can be punished. Detentions will be made through executive orders and the military has been given powers to arrest and detain, powers which it did not have even under the PTA. The ATA will create a permanent state of emergency where Sri Lanka will effectively become a military state functioning under the exclusive dictate of the Executive. Repealing\u00a0the PTA has been a promise\u00a0made to the nation and the global\u00a0community of nations represented\u00a0at the United Nations. What this bill does however is to increase the power of the State to repress citizens\u00a0 \u00a0and deny the Constitutionally guaranteed Fundamental Rights of the People.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The proposed laws are a clear indication that the government fears that its indifference to the grave\u00a0hardships\u00a0of the people in this economic crisis will not be tolerated, and will be resisted. The Citizens\u00a0of this country were not responsible\u00a0for this man made crisis. Instead of taking the responsibility for the crisis, the government is making use of debt restructuring to make laws that encourage governance that is not accountable to the people and tries to legalise misuse of state power. Under the guise of domestic debt restructuring savings of the working people are being stolen. Under the guise of labour law reforms proposals are being pushed to bring an end to the right to unionise and exploit women\u2019s labour. Women\u2019s groups and activists\u00a0have made an important contribution to ensuring that our laws and policies on women\u2019s work conform to international ILO and other standards, and our Constitution. The proposed labour laws target women disproportionately, and will eliminate all these gains, embedding and\u00a0encouraging exploitation of their labour. Even criticism of the transformation\u00a0will be prevented by these repressive laws.<\/p>\n

We are still suffering the impact of repressive laws of the past, enacted in the name of national defence, stability, economic growth\u00a0and development. What Government\u00a0needs to do, is to learn from the past and engage in enlightened law making. That agenda must repeal repressive laws and respond\u00a0to embedded corruption, foster national unity and equitable\u00a0economic growth that benefits all citizens in our plural society. The government\u2019s intention in passing laws that\u00a0violate the basic values of democratic\u00a0governance\u00a0in our Constitution, shows that they want\u00a0to\u00a0change course, and establish a political dictatorship. The pretext is\u00a0debt restructuring and economic recovery from bankruptcy.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>We as Women\u2019s groups and other Civil Society groups and concerned\u00a0citizens call upon the government\u00a0to withdraw ALL these Bills from Parliament. Government must engage\u00a0in a\u00a0 \u00a0process of consultative law making, that we saw when the Right to Information Bill was passed. That law has received praise for strengthening accountable governance in local and international\u00a0reviews of governance\u00a0in our country. MPs, whether\u00a0or not they are unelected by the people, and come to Parliament\u00a0from a national list, take an oath of office that must respect the responsibilities of office under the basic law of our country the Constitution. According to the Preamble to that document THEIR DUTY\u00a0 IS:<\/p>\n

\u201c\u00a0to humbly acknowledge (their) obligation to ratify the immutable republican principle of representative democracy, assuring to all people Freedom Equality Justice Fundamental Human Rights and the Independence of the judiciary”.(PREAMBLE Constitution 1978)<\/p>\n

We call upon the govt to\u00a0WITHDRAW ALL\u00a0these bills, and engage\u00a0in a public conversation with qualified\u00a0persons and citizens on public policy in these important areas. We call upon ALL Members of Parliament\u00a0to fulfill the above stated Constitutional mandate and\u00a0VOTE AGAINST these repressive laws.<\/p>\n

Individual Signatories:<\/b><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. A. C. Fathima Husna (Attorney at Law)<\/li>\n
  2. A. Rose\u00a0 <\/span>(Community Activist)<\/li>\n
  3. Aakiya Aman (Entrepreneur)<\/li>\n
  4. Ambika Satkunanathan\u00a0 <\/span>(Former Human Rights Commissioner)\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Ameena Hussein \u2013 Writer<\/li>\n
  6. Anberiya Haniffa – Director, Muslim Women\u2019s Research and Action Forum, Development Consultant\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Aneesa Firthous\u00a0 (Women\u2019s rights Activist)<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Annie Kurien \u2013 Director Centre for Social Concern<\/li>\n
  9. Anuratha Rajaretnam\u00a0 (Coordinator Suriya)<\/li>\n
  10. Ashila Dandeniya\u00a0 <\/span>(Labour Rights Activist)<\/span><\/li>\n
  11. Balarasa Ratneswary (Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  12. Balasingam Sukitha (Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  13. Bisliya Bhutto\u00a0(Former Local Authority Member)<\/li>\n
  14. Chamila Thushari (Women\u2019s Labour Rights Activist)<\/span><\/li>\n
  15. Chandani Herath (Chairperson Sunila Women and Children Development Foundation)<\/li>\n
  16. Chriten jeyaseelan Augustalima (Social Media Activist- Mannar )<\/li>\n
  17. Deepika Udagama – Professor of Law\u00a0University of\u00a0Peradeniya Former\u00a0 \u00a0 Chairperson\u00a0 Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka<\/li>\n
  18. Dr Tush Wickramanayaka (Child Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  19. Dr. Chulani Kodikara – Polity Editorial Collective, Former Member of National Committee on Women\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  20. Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy \u2013Fellow International Centre for Ethnic Studies<\/li>\n
  21. Dr. Ramani Jayasundera, Board Member Centre for Women\u2019s Research<\/li>\n
  22. Dr. Selvi Thiruchandran\u00a0 <\/span>– Former Member RTI Commission and Executive Director Women\u2019s\u2019 Education and Research Centre<\/span><\/li>\n
  23. Dr. Sepali Kottegoda \u2013 Director Programmes and Research, Women and Media Collective\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  24. Dr. Thiloma Munasinghe \u2013 Public Health Consultant<\/li>\n
  25. Dr. Thiyagaraja Waradas – Human Rights Activist<\/li>\n
  26. Duleep de Chickera, former Bishop, Anglican Church of SL<\/span><\/li>\n
  27. Ermiza Tegal \u2013 Attorney at Law<\/li>\n
  28. Faizun Zakeriya, Co- Founder & Director, Muslim Women\u2019s Research and Action Forum\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  29. Fathima Ilma (Former Local Authority Member)<\/li>\n
  30. Geethika Dharmasinghe – Senior Lecturer University of Colombo<\/li>\n
  31. Geoffrey Alagaratnam – PC Former President\u00a0of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka.<\/li>\n
  32. Hamthun Jumana\u00a0– Women\u2019s Rights Activist Mullaitheevu\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  33. J.R.A Dorin – Community Activist\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  34. Janakie Seneviratne – Women\u2019s Rights Activist<\/span><\/li>\n
  35. Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala\u00a0 <\/span>(Women\u2019s Rights Activist )<\/li>\n
  36. Jegatheeswaran Thayalini\u00a0 (Women\u2019s Rights Activist)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  37. Jegatheeswaran Varayalini\u00a0(Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  38. Jezima Ismail \u2013 Educationist, Former member Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka\u00a0 <\/span>Co-founder Muslim Women\u2019s Research and Action Forum<\/li>\n
  39. Justice Rohini Marasinge\u00a0– Former Chairperson Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  40. Juwairiya Mohideen (Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  41. K. Nihal Ahamed (Social Activist- Ampara)<\/li>\n
  42. K.Yogeshwary (General Secretary Working Women Front \u2013 Katugastota)<\/li>\n
  43. Kanaka Abeygunawardana<\/span> (Independent Consultant)<\/span><\/li>\n
  44. Kanthaiyah Kalaivani (Political Activist)<\/li>\n
  45. Karuppaiya Saththiyaseelan (Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  46. Kathirkamanathan Hemalarha (Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  47. Kiruthika Thurairajah – Independent Consultant<\/li>\n
  48. Kunaraja Ajitha (Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  49. Laxman Rajani (Social Worker)<\/li>\n
  50. M,Y. Minnathul Suheera (Attorney at Law)<\/li>\n
  51. M.Noorul Ismiya\u00a0(Community Mobiliser)<\/li>\n
  52. Mahaluxmy Kurushanthan (Human Rights Defender \u2013 Mannar)\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  53. Mahendiran Nirmalathevi (Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  54. Maithreyi Rajasingam \u2013 Director – Vilithu<\/li>\n
  55. Manjula Krishnamoorthy (Former Local Authority Member)<\/li>\n
  56. Mansoor Mafahira (Social Mobiliser \u2013 Mannar)<\/li>\n
  57. Marisa de Silva (Social Media and Community Activist)<\/li>\n
  58. Mohamed Majeed Jansila (Women\u2019s Rights Activist – Mullaitheevu)<\/li>\n
  59. Mujeeba Mujeeb (Former Local Authority Member)<\/li>\n
  60. Nabeela Iqbal (Sisterhood Initiative)<\/span><\/li>\n
  61. Nadaraja Sumathy (CSO Activist- Ampara)<\/li>\n
  62. Nadhiha Abbas (Attorney at Law)<\/li>\n
  63. Nalini Rathnarajah (Women Human Rights Defender)<\/span><\/li>\n
  64. Nelum Gunesekera \u2013 Consultant \u2013 Gender and Social Inclusion.<\/li>\n
  65. Nirmalan Arththigan\u00a0 (Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  66. P. Renukathevi (Program manager ESDF- Batticaloa)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  67. Padma Pushpakanthi (Social Activist)<\/li>\n
  68. Padmini Weerasuriya (Executive Director)<\/span><\/li>\n
  69. Prema Gamage \u2013 Gender and Development Consultant.<\/span><\/li>\n
  70. Priyanthi Fernando- Former Executive\u00a0Director Centre for Poverty Analysis Sri Lanka and International Women\u2019s Rights Action\u00a0Watch Asia Pacific.<\/li>\n
  71. Prof Gameela Samarasinghe, University of Colombo<\/span><\/li>\n
  72. Prof Harendra de Silva\u00a0(Emeritus\u00a0Professor of Paediatrics University of Colombo\u00a0and\u00a0 Former Chairperson National Child Protection\u00a0)<\/li>\n
  73. Prof Savithri Goonesekere \u2013 Emeritus Professor of Law, Former Vice Chancellor University of Colombo<\/li>\n
  74. Prof. Camena Gunaratne, Open University\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  75. Rajabdeen Rasika (Women\u2019s Rights Activist Mullaitheevu)<\/li>\n
  76. Rajany Rajeshwary\u00a0(Feminist- Jaffna)<\/li>\n
  77. Ramani Mutthetuwegama (Attorney at Law)<\/li>\n
  78. Ranitha Gnanarajah (Attorney at Law)<\/li>\n
  79. Ravinthiran Kounthini\u00a0( Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  80. Rev. Dr. Jayasiri T Peiris\u00a0Former General Secretary of the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka\u00a0and Former Principal, Theological College of Lanka<\/li>\n
  81. Rev. S D P Selvan\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  82. Rifa Mohamed Musthafa (Social Activist- Ampara)<\/li>\n
  83. Rifsana Fiqry (Entrepreneur) \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  84. Rizani Hamin (Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  85. S. Janeeta (Social Activist- Ampara)<\/li>\n
  86. Safana Gul Begum (Attorney at Law)<\/li>\n
  87. Sakuntala Kadirgamar \u2013 Executive Director, Law and Society Trust<\/span><\/li>\n
  88. Saliya Peries – PC Former President\u00a0of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka.<\/li>\n
  89. Sarala Emanuel \u2013 Independent Researcher\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  90. Saratha Thevi (Psychosocial Counselor)<\/li>\n
  91. Saththiyaseelan Niththis (Women\u2019s Rights Activist\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  92. Selvanathan Tharsan\u00a0(Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  93. Selvarasa Jeyantha (Women\u2019s Rights Activist – Mannar)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  94. Selvarasa Thileepan (Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  95. Shafinaz Hassendeen, Retired International Labour Organisation Official, Director, Muslim Women\u2019s Research and Action Forum<\/span><\/li>\n
  96. Shareefa Ameer (Entrepreneur)<\/li>\n
  97. Shiranee Mills \u2013Executive Director, Women\u2019s Education and Research Centre.<\/span><\/li>\n
  98. Shireen Samarasuriya \u2013 Director, Voice of Women<\/li>\n
  99. Shreen Saroor (Human Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  100. 100.Shyama Salgado \u2013 Retired Official International Labour Organisation\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  101. 101.Shyamala Gomez (Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  102. 102.Shyamala Sivagurunathan\u00a0 <\/span>(Independent Consultant)<\/li>\n
  103. 103.Shydha Zaara\u00a0 <\/span>(Scoal Activist)<\/li>\n
  104. 104.Sirany Thevakumar\u00a0 (Women Human Rights Defender)<\/li>\n
  105. 105.Sithravel Ethayarani\u00a0 (Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  106. 106.Sitraleka Maunaguru \u2013Independent Feminist Researcher – Batticaloa\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  107. 107.Siva Mariyarosalin\u00a0 (Women\u2019s Rights Activist<\/li>\n
  108. 108.Sri Easwaray (Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  109. 109.Sri Kopika\u00a0 (Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  110. 110.Sulochana Peiris (Independent Writer and Documentary Maker<\/span><\/li>\n
  111. 111.Sumika Perera- Director, Women\u2019s Resource Centre, Kurunegala\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  112. 112.Suntharalingam Saththiya (Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  113. 113.Suntharampillai Suganthi (Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  114. 114.Surendran Thamilini (Women\u2019s Rights Activist- Mannar\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  115. 115.Suresh\u00a0Jayawardhane (Freelance Consultant and CSO Activist<\/li>\n
  116. 116.Swasthika Arulingham (President Commercial Industrial Workers\u2019 Union)<\/li>\n
  117. 117.Thadchanamoorthy Navajothy (Women Human Rights Defender -Batticaloa)<\/li>\n
  118. 118.Tharanga de Silva – Women and Media Collective\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  119. 119.Vanie Simon (Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  120. 120.Vibooshi Balakrishnan\u00a0(Human Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  121. 121.Vijayatheva Sasikala (Former Municipal Council Member \u2013 Batticaloa)<\/li>\n
  122. 122.Vijitha Ehamparanathan (Women\u2019s Rights Activist- Trincomalee)<\/li>\n
  123. 123.Vipulan Shamini\u00a0 (Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  124. 124.Vivekananth Sinthuka\u00a0(Women\u2019s Rights Activist)<\/li>\n
  125. 125.Y. Rinoza (Social Activist- Ampara)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Organizations and Collectives:<\/b><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Affected Women\u2019s Forum\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Alliance for Minorities\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. Ampara District\u00a0Alliance for Land Right (ADALR)<\/li>\n
    4. Cantre for Women\u2019s Research\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    5. Centre for Equality and Justice<\/li>\n
    6. Centre for Social Concerns<\/li>\n
    7. Community Welfare Fund Sri Lanka<\/span><\/li>\n
    8. Dabindu Collective<\/span><\/li>\n
    9. Forum of Women Human Rights Defenders, Eastern Province<\/li>\n
    10. Human Elevation Organization (HEO)<\/li>\n
    11. Law and Society Trust\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    12. Liberation Movement\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    13. Malarum Mottukal Collective \u2013 Mannar<\/li>\n
    14. Mannar Women\u2019s Development Federation<\/li>\n
    15. Muslim Women’s Development Trust<\/li>\n
    16. Muslim Women\u2019s Research and Action Forum<\/li>\n
    17. Network of Women in local politics, Eastern Province<\/li>\n
    18. Network of Women with disabilities, Batticaloa district<\/li>\n
    19. Puttalam District Women\u2019s Self Employment Reconciliation Forum\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    20. Rainbow Pillars for Creativity (Batticaloa)<\/li>\n
    21. Rural Development Foundation<\/li>\n
    22. Savisthri\u00a0National\u00a0Women’s\u00a0Movement<\/li>\n
    23. Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women\u2019s Organisation (Negombo)<\/li>\n
    24. Stand Up Movement Lanka<\/li>\n
    25. Suriya Women’s Development Centre<\/li>\n
    26. Vallamai-Movement for Social Change<\/li>\n
    27. VILUTHU<\/li>\n
    28. Voice of Women\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    29. Women Actions for Independent Development -WOMEN AID<\/li>\n
    30. Women and Media Collective\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    31. Women Development innovators\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    32. Women’s\u00a0Action for Social Justice\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    33. Women’s Centre\u00a0Sri Lanka\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    34. Women\u2019s Action Network\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    35. Women\u2019s Education and Research Centre<\/li>\n
    36. Women\u2019s Resource Centre, Kurunegala<\/li>\n
    37. Working Women’s Front<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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